Maniolas

INQUIRER.net 9:52 am | Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 Left: A teacher-fellow sits with a class of students from the Boracay European International School. Right: Seated 3rd and 4th from left, respectively: Jerome Intia, Teach for the Philippines’ Director for Marketing and Events, Mathew Watkins, Boracay European International School’s principal together with DHL Express Philippines sponsors, Teach for the Philippines fellows, and Boracay European International School teachers. MANILA, Philippines – “One who dares to teach must never cease to learn,” American librarian John Cotton Dana, once said. In order to learn, one must continuously expose himself to various things and experiences. Trying out new things not only entails learning, but also broadens one’s perspective. Teachers, like other professionals, always benefit from continuous learning that helps them become even better teachers. This is what nonprofit organization Teach for the Philippines continues to convey to its teacher-fellows. As part of its teacher training, Teach for the Philippines recently participated in an exchange mentoring program with the Boracay European International School, where Teach for the Philippines teacher-fellows taught students on Boracay. Several Teach for the Philippines teacher-fellows who participated in the immersion were Delfin Villafuerte, Ja Dueñas, and Noelle Pabiton, who taught 1st, 4th, 6th, and 7th graders of the Boracay European International School, for the activity, respectively. Pabiton teaches at the Commonwealth Elementary School, the Quezon City elementary school with the largest student population. She was overwhelmed with the experience of teaching fewer students in a class. “It’s all about creating that sense of possibility Read More …

Dispute should be settled by int’l arbitration By Christian V. Esguerra |Philippine Daily Inquirer 1:07 am | Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, right, and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III address the media at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Monday, Sept. 15, 2014. They discussed the Mindanao Peace negotiations, trade and investment, bilateral development cooperation and maritime issues. AP PHOTO/YVES LOGGHE BRUSSELS—The Philippines and the European Union (EU) agree that territorial disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved through international arbitration. This was made clear when President Aquino sat down on Monday with European Commission President José Manuel Barroso at the EC headquarters in the Berlaymont building here, as both leaders emphasized the need to settle differences between China and its neighbors peacefully. With both the Philippines and the EU seeking the same route, Aquino said “China will have to listen,” noting that the EU is its “biggest trading partner.” Beijing, which is claiming around 90 percent of the South China Sea, has rejected international arbitration, insisting that disputes should be resolved bilaterally with individual claimants like the Philippines. “Let me stress that the European Union encourages all parties to seek peaceful solutions, through dialogue and cooperation, in accordance with international law—in particular with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea [Unclos],” Barroso said in a joint press conference with Aquino at the EC headquarters. The European Union, he said, is a “proud” party to the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Read More …

By Frances Mangosing |INQUIRER.net 9:12 pm | Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli at the opening ceremony of the 11th China-Asean Expo in Nanning, China. NANNING CITY, China—Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli said that China is ready to work with neighboring  countries to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) given the proper dialogue. “China is ready to work with Asean countries to implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea [through enhanced dialogue],” he said in his speech on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the opening ceremony of China-Asean Expo (Caexpo) Summit here. Gaoli was the keynote speaker at the 11th Caexpo trade and business fair for Asean countries. The summit was strategically held in this city, as it is located along the South China Sea. China has been aggressive in its claims to the resource-rich South China Sea, and has continued its presence and reclamation activities at some reefs and shoals in areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China is also embroiled in territorial rows with neighboring countries. “We are ready to join efforts with other countries in the world to pursue and uphold peace so that we will be able  to live in amity and enjoy harmonious development,” Gaoli said. He said the peace and stability of the South China Sea concerns the prosperity, development, and wellbeing of the people in the region. But at the same time, he reiterated that China underscores territorial sovereignty. Its claims to almost the  entire South China Sea are based on their historical records and ancient maps. “China firmly upholds its territorial sovereignty and maritime Read More …